Taken Out of Con[Text]

A text experiment by Koleka Putuma

-----------------

Nigeria stands at a pivotal moment of transformation, where a comprehensive view of its socio-economic and cultural landscape is essential. There is a growing call for introspection and alternative approaches to financial resilience, a reevaluation of traditional values, and a shift away from individualism toward collective well-being.

Latitudes is pleased to introduce artist, writer and the author of the book, Yakhal'inkomo - Portrait of a Jazz Classic, Percy Mabandu. In his improvisatory essay, Mabandu tracks an ongoing sighting of musicians caught in the act of performance by a succession of artists across the space time continuum of South African art.

A group of young artists from Artist Proof Studio were selected for a residency programme in memory of Gianni Mariano, co-founder of Mastrantonio group, former BASA board member, chairman of the Artists Proof Studio board and mentorship pioneer, who sadly passed away in 2023.

In some way, the presence of a painting on every wall — from the pristine white finish of a gallery to the prehistoric archive of a cave — can be somewhat overwhelming. How has the language of paint transcended race, time, geography and cultural context?

As someone who comes from a creative industry you would think that I would have always been drawn into the art space, but like many others I have always found galleries, let alone art collecting, to be a space which intimidated me greatly.

A review of Steelwool and Other Paradoxes, the current show at Latitudes Centre for the Arts.

An innate rapport with the natural world is the heartbeat of works by artist partners and stewards of the earth, Geoffrey Armstrong and Wendy Vincent. Over the past 25 years their Magalies Rock Garden near Hekpooort in South Africa has set the stage for the conception of dream-like works of genius.

Latitudes' Boitumelo Makousu interviews artist Sharlene Khan.

We are thrilled to announce that Xanthe Somers is this year's ANNA Award Winner!

In this exclusive interview, collector Annicia Manyaapelo shares her journey through the art world, as well as invaluable advice on collecting.

As an artist, my engagement with soil has been both sporadic and profound, each interaction a meditation on the earth's raw, tactile essence. Over the years, I've witnessed a growing embrace of soil as a medium by a diverse cadre of artists near and far.

Our esteemed selection committee is hard at work deciding on a winner from the 2024 Top 12 Finalists, who we are beyond excited to present to you!

If you peruse the 16 art exhibitions and live programming of the HEAT Festival, you aren't likely to see the names of too many famous artists. The HEAT Winter Arts Festival was not originally tailored for young or emerging artists. This focus occurred organically - as a nascent festival, it made sense to unearth new talent, and a fresh point of view.

Art and artists make for good stories. Over the years, a rich relationship between South African art and fiction has emerged, with art serving as a point of inspiration for fictional narratives.

Many of the works on display at RMB Latitudes Art Fair exemplified the strangeness and charm of the bizarre in a venue so splendidly unorthodox that one might be forgiven for thinking it was designed for the very purpose.